Marine Says Oakland Used Crowd Control Methods That Are Prohibited In War Zones

As the events that led to Oakland protester Scott Olsen's head
injury continue to unfold and investigations begin, we thought it
important to offer some perspective.

This comment is from a former Marine with special operations in
crowd control.

He points out that shooting canisters such as those that likely
hit Scott Olsen is prohibited under rules of engagements in Iraq
and Afghanistan. Regardless of any political position on the
Occupy protests, these are some
Interesting insights:

Before gas goes into a crowd shield bearers have to be making no
progress moving a crowd or crowd must be assaulting the line. Not
with sticks and stones but a no bullshit assault. 3 warnings must
be given to the crowd in a manner they can hear that force is
about to be used. Shield bearers take a knee and CS gas is
released in grenade form first to fog out your lines because you
have gas masks. You then kick the canisters along in front of
your lines. Projectile gas is not used except for longer ranged
engagement or trying to steer the crowd ( by steering a crowd I
mean firing gas to block a street off ). You also have shotguns
with beanbags and various less than lethal rounds for your
launchers. These are the rules for a WARZONE!!

How did a cop who is supposed to have training on his weapon
system accidentally SHOOT someone in the head with a 40mm gas
canister? Simple. He was aiming at him.

I'll be the first to admit a 40mm round is tricky to aim if you
are inexperienced but anyone can tell the difference between
aiming at head level and going for range.

The person that pulled that trigger has no business being a cop.
He sent that round out with the intention of doing some serious
damage to the protestors. I don't care what the protestors were
doing. I never broke my rules of engagement in Iraq or
Afghanistan. So I can't imagine what a protester in the states
did to deserve a headshot with a 40mm. He's damn lucky to be
alive and that cop knows he was using lethal force against a
protester he is supposed to be protecting.

Additionally: Jesse Davis mentions "The methods prohibited in
war, and actions after the fact are also against war zone
policy." Check out his
infographic here.

Specifically these two transcribed directly from US Army Law of War/Law of Armed Conflict
training.

The Military manual states:…have a duty to collect and care for the wounded.
Prioritize treatment according to injuries. Make NO
treatment distinction based on nationality. All soldiers,
enemy or friendly, must be treated the same.

Second, the officer threw a flash-bang directly into a group of
people trying to carry him away for medical treatment.
Here's the Military guidance on that decision:Medical Personnel Considered out of combat if they
exclusively engaged in medical duties. (GWS, art. 24.) Doctors,
surgeons, nurses, chemists, stretcher-bearers, medics, corpsman,
and orderlies, etc..., who are “exclusively engaged” in the
direct care of the wounded and sick.